Divider system

ABSTRACT

A divider system for diverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screw set, and a diverting mechanism. The dividing screw set conveys a sequence of objects to an output end of the screw set where the objects are divided by rotation of the dividing screw set and outputted alternately to first and second discharge screws of the discharge screw set to form a first series of objects conveyed by the first discharge screw and a second series of objects conveyed by the second discharge screw. The divider system includes a diverting mechanism which can be selectively actuated to divert objects from one discharge screw to the other discharge screw to form a diverted group.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/059,604 filed Aug. 9, 2018, and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/543,503, filed on Aug. 10, 2017, which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a divider system for dividing anddiverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes.

BACKGROUND

Divider and diverting mechanisms are used in combination with conveyormechanisms to convey objects received via an infeed such that theobjects are divided between two or more discharge lanes and/or divertedto a selected one of the discharge lanes as required by the systemincluding the divider, for example, to discharge the divided and/ordiverted objects to one or more downstream processes, to balance thevolume of objects fed to each of multiple downstream processes, toseparate the objects by type and/or condition, etc. Divider systemswhich use a dividing force such as an air blast or mechanical force,such as a plunger force, to force an object on a conveyor to one side ofthe conveyor or the other to divide a sequence of conveyed objectsbetween two discharge conveyors are known. The use of an air blast orplunger force to exert a dividing force on the object, especially tallerand/or lightweight objects, can be destabilizing, potentially causingthe object to tip or fall from the conveyor, which can result in adisruption of the conveyor operation. The dividing force in thesesystems may be triggered from an input signal received from a sensor,such as an electronic eye, which is configured to detect an objectioncondition. Delay associated with detection and transmission of thedetection signal, additional delay associated with actuation delay of anair blast or plunger actuator, and/or variability in response timeand/or dividing force associated with variability in pressure of the airblast due to environmental factors including temperature, humidity,etc., introduces variation into the response time and accuracy of such adividing system. Changeover of such a divider system may requireadditional time for reprogramming of sensor eyes and pneumatic controls,air nozzle size, type and/or position adjustment, etc., for eachdifferent size, shape and/or weight of the object.

SUMMARY

A divider system for dividing and selectively diverting objects from aninfeed lane into one or more discharge lanes is provided. The dividersystem described herein includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screwset, a diverting mechanism, and a conveying mechanism for conveying asequence of objects received to the divider system from an infeed lanethrough the dividing and discharge screw sets to one or more dischargelanes. The divider system receives objects from an infeed channel fordivision into first and second series of objects by the dividing screwset. The first series of objects is output to a first discharge screw ofthe discharge screw set and onto a first discharge belt, and conveyed bythe first discharge screw through a discharge channel defined by thedischarge screw set. The second series of objects is output to a seconddischarge screw of the discharge screw set and onto a second dischargebelt, and conveyed by the second discharge screw through the dischargechannel.

The dividing screw set has an input end for receiving objects from aninfeed lane, and an output end for outputting the objects in dividedseries into a discharge channel defined by the discharge screw set. Thedividing screw set has an infeed portion and a dividing portion, wherethe lead of the screw form in the dividing portion is greater than thelead of the infeed portion. The infeed portion includes a plurality ofinfeed pockets for sequencing, stabilizing and conveying objectsreceived from the infeed lane to the dividing portion on a conveyorincluding split and tilted first and second discharge belts, such that,when a sequence of objects are conveyed into the dividing portion,alternating objects in the sequence are tilted into the dividing pocketsof the first and second dividing screws, such that a first object in thesequence is divided and tilted into a dividing pocket of the firstdividing screw, the second object in the sequence is divided and tiltedinto a dividing pocket of the second dividing screw, a third object inthe sequence is divided and tilted into a dividing pocket of the firstdividing screw, a fourth object in the sequence is divided and tiledinto a dividing pocket of the second dividing screw, and so on inalternating fashion, to divide the sequence of objects into a firstseries of objects divided into the dividing pockets of the firstdividing screw which are outputted from the first dividing screw ontothe first discharge belt to be received into alternating dischargepockets of the first discharge screw, and a second series of objectsdivided into the dividing pockets of the second dividing screw which areoutputted from the second dividing screw onto the second discharge beltto be received into alternating discharge pockets of the seconddischarge screw.

As an object of the first series is outputted from the dividing pocketof the first dividing screw onto the first discharge belt, the dividedobject is received into a discharge pocket of a first discharge screw,for conveyance to a first discharge lane. Similarly, as an object of thesecond series is outputted from the dividing pocket of the seconddividing screw, the divided object is received into a discharge pocketof a second discharge screw, for conveyance to a second discharge lane.The diverting mechanism is actuable to selectively divert one or moreobjects from the discharge pockets of one of the discharge screws intoempty discharge pockets of the other of the discharge screws, to form adiverted group of objects which are conveyed to a selected one of thedischarge lanes. In an illustrative configuration, the divertingmechanism includes diverter elements which can be actuated, for example,by one of a servo, hydraulic, pneumatic, or magnetic actuator, tocontact and divert the object from one discharge belt to the other. Inone example, the diverter element is configured as a pivoting arm, whichcan include a contact surface which is contoured to gradually contactthe objects being diverted, so as to gradually apply a diverting forceto the objects without destabilizing the objects. Movement and actuationof the diverter elements, the dividing screws, the discharge screws, andthe conveyor is controlled by a controller. Advantageously, the pocketsdefined by the dividing screw set and the discharge screw set stabilizeand support the objects as the objects are conveyed, divided, divertedand/or discharged. The system is further advantaged by coordination ofthe rotation speed of the dividing and discharge screws with the beltspeed of the conveyor by a controller, where the rotation speed and thebelt speed are coordinated so no loading force (no drag or acceleration)is imposed by the conveyor on the objects being conveyed through thedivider system, such that each of the objects is conveyed in a stableand controlled position through the divider system. Advantageously, thesupport provided by the screw sets enables dividing and diverting ofrelatively taller and/or lighter objects such as empty containers, whileminimizing and/or eliminating potential for object tip over or jammingin the system.

The divider system can include one or more sensors for sensing acondition and/or state of the object, such as a color, shape, label, barcode, weight, component presence, size, etc. and for outputting a sensorsignal indicating the condition and/or state of the object to thecontroller. The controller is configured to receive and analyze thesensor signal and to selectively divert one or more objects from one ofthe discharge belts to the other in response to the sensor signal. Thecontroller can be configured to receive input signals from other devicesand/or sensors, which may be upstream and/or downstream of the dividersystem, including signals indicating object flow and line balancinginformation from downstream processes receiving the divided objects fromthe discharge lanes of the divider system. The controller can use theinput signals to selectively divert one or more objects from one of thedischarge belts to the other in response to the input signal. A methodfor dividing and diverting objects using the divider system describedherein is provided.

The use of screw sets to divide and convey the divided objects, and theuse of mechanical diverters to divert divided objects into a divertedgroup, as described in detail herein, while stabilizing those objectsusing a discharge screw set, provides a divider system which can divideand divert objects at high speeds and with high accuracy of position onthe conveyor, uniform spacing, and position stability, as compared withknown systems which first sense an object presence and/or condition,transmit a signal, and actuate a burst of air or plunger to divert anunsupported object on a conveyor.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best modes for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a divider system for selectivelyfeeding objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes,the divider system including a conveying mechanism, a dividing mechanismincluding a dividing screw set and a discharge screw set, and adiverting mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the divider system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of the divider system,showing a sequence of objects being divided by the dividing screw setinto two series of objects and outputted to the discharge screw set fordischarge in two discharge lanes;

FIG. 4 is a photographic image of a perspective top view of the dividersystem of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 through 7 are photographic images of the divider system,illustrating a sequence of objects being divided by the dividing screwset into two series of objects, each series of objects being conveyed ona respective discharge belt by a respective discharge screw;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of the divider system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of section 9-9 of the divider system of FIG.8, showing a object being conveyed in an infeed portion of the dividingscrew set;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of section 10-10 of the divider system ofFIG. 8, showing objects being divided in a dividing portion of thedividing screw set;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of section 11-11 of the divider system ofFIG. 8, showing divided objects being outputted from the dividing screwset;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of section 12-12 of the divider system ofFIG. 8, showing divided objects being conveyed by the discharge screwset on the discharge belts;

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective illustration of the divider system ofFIG. 3, showing a group of the divided objects being diverted by thediverting mechanism into a first one of the discharge lanes;

FIG. 14 is a schematic top view of the divider system of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a photographic image of a perspective top view of the dividersystem of FIG. 13 showing a diverter element of the diverting mechanismdiverting divided objects into a selected one of the discharge lanes;

FIG. 16 is schematic top view of the dividing screw set of the dividersystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a schematic top view of the discharge screw set of thedivider system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a schematic top view of the discharge screw set of FIG. 17including a diverter;

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of section 19-19 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of section 20-20 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 21 through 27 are a series of photographic images showing a seriesof objects conveyed by the divider system of FIG. 1, including:

FIGS. 21 through 24 showing the sequence of objects being divided intotwo series of objects by the dividing screw set, where each series ofobjects is discharged from the dividing screw set onto a respectivedischarge belt and conveyed by the discharge screw set to a respectivedischarge lane;

FIG. 25 showing actuation of one of the diverters of the divertingmechanism to divert the divided series of objects in the discharge screwset into one of the discharge lanes to form a diverted group of objects;and

FIG. 26 showing de-actuation of the diverting mechanism to ceasediversion of the divided series of objects into the diverted group; and

FIG. 27 showing actuation of the other diverter of the divertingmechanism to divert the divided series of objects in the discharge screwset into the other of the discharge lanes to form a diverted group ofobjects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numbers represent likecomponents throughout the several figures, the elements shown in FIGS.1-27 are not necessarily to scale or proportion. Accordingly, theparticular dimensions and applications provided in the drawingspresented herein are not to be considered limiting. Referring to FIGS.1-5, a divider system is indicated generally at 100, and includes aconveying mechanism indicated generally at 20, a dividing mechanismindicated generally at 40, a diverting mechanism generally indicated at72, a drive mechanism indicated generally at 110 (see FIGS. 19-20) and acontroller 104. The divider system 100 includes a frame assembly 106 towhich the conveying mechanism 20, the dividing mechanism 40, thediverting mechanism 72, the drive mechanism 110 and the controller 104are attached. The divider system 100 can be at least partially containedby a housing 102, as shown in FIG. 2.

The conveying mechanism 20 includes a conveyor generally indicated at 22and driven by the drive mechanism 110. The conveyor 22 includes aninfeed belt 24 for conveying a sequence of objects 10 along an infeedlane 16 between infeed rails 18A, 18B to discharge belts 26A, 26B of theconveyor 22. The discharge belts 26A, 26B include a flat portion 28 (seeFIG. 9) to receive the objects 10 from the infeed belt 24, and a peakedportion 30 (see FIGS. 10-12) for conveying the objects through thedividing mechanism 100. In the peaked portion, the discharge belts 26A,26B are tilted away and downward from a peaked center 32 and away from alongitudinal axis 94 of the conveyor 22. The discharge belts 26A, 26Bconvey the sequence of objects 10 through the dividing mechanism 40where the objects 10 are divided into two object series 12A, 12B, where,in the example shown in FIGS. 3-12 and as described in further detailherein, the objects 10 in the first series 12A are divided onto a firstdischarge belt 26A and the objects 10 in the second series 12B aredivided onto a second discharge belt 26B. The object series 12A, 12B areconveyed, respectively, on discharge belts 26A, 26B to, respectively,discharge lanes 34A, 34B of an outfeed portion 90 to exit the conveyor22 at an outfeed end 92. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the dischargelanes 34A, 34B are defined by discharge rails 36A, 36B and a laneseparator 38. The divider system 100 further includes a divertingmechanism 72 which, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 13-15 and asexplained in further detail herein, can be selectively actuated todivert the series 12A, 12B of the divided objects 10 onto one of thedischarge belts 26A, 26B to form a diverted group 14 of objects 10,where the diverted group 14 of objects 10 are then conveyed via arespective one of the discharge lanes 34A, 34B to the outfeed end 92 ofthe conveyor 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3-12 and FIG. 16, the dividing mechanism 40 includesa dividing screw set indicated generally at 42, and a discharge screwset indicated generally at 60. The dividing screw set 42 includes firstand second dividing screws 44A, 44B connected to drive units 118A, 118Bsuch that each of the dividing screws 44A, 44B is rotatable about ascrew axis 98 (see FIG. 9). The dividing screw set 42 includes an inputend 46 for receiving objects 10 from the infeed belt 24, and an outputend 48 for outputting the divided objects 10 in two object series 12A,12B. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, object series 12A is outputted todischarge belt 26A for conveyance to discharge lane 34A, and objectseries 12B is outputted to discharge belt 26B for conveyance todischarge lane 34B. The dividing screws 44A, 44B are configured to bedriven by drive units 118 in opposing directions relative to alongitudinal axis 94 defined by the conveyor 22. In the present example,dividing screw 44A is configured to rotate clockwise, and dividing screw44B is configured to rotate counter-clockwise, as viewed from the outputend 48 of the dividing screw set 42. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 16, each ofthe dividing screws 44A, 44B is a variable lead screw, having an infeedportion 52 with a thread form having a first lead L1, and a dividingportion 56 with a thread form having a second lead L2, where the secondlead L2 is greater (longer) than the first lead L1. The second lead L2defines a predetermined interval at which objects 10 are outputted fromthe output end 48 of the dividing screw set 42. In a non-limitingexample, the first lead L1 is equal to the pitch P of the screw threadform, and the second lead L2 is twice the pitch P of the screw threadform.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 16, the dividing screws 44A, 44B are alignedsuch that the screw axes 98 of the dividing screws 44A, 44B are parallelto each other and to the longitudinal axis 94, and are spaced laterallyfrom the longitudinal axis 94 and relative to each other to define adividing channel 50 including a plurality of infeed pockets 54distributed along the longitudinal length of the infeed portion 52 ofthe dividing screw set 42, and a plurality of dividing pockets 58A, 58Bdistributed along the longitudinal length of the dividing portion 56 ofthe dividing screw set 42. The shape of each infeed pocket 54 is definedby the screw form of the infeed portion 52 of the dividing screws 44A,44B. As shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 16, in the infeed portion 52, the threadforms of the dividing screws 44A, 44B are aligned to form the pluralityof infeed pockets 54, such that each object 10 in the infeed portion issupported in a substantially upright position in a respective infeedpocket 54, as shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 16, as the object 10 is conveyedthrough the infeed portion 52 from the input end 46 to the dividingportion 56 along a flat portion 28 of the conveyor 22. In a non-limitingexample, the height H of the dividing screws 44A, 44B can be adjustedfor the height, shape, size, and/or weight distribution of the object10, to stabilize the object 10 in the upright position and as such,prevent tipping of the object 10, jamming of the object 10 in thedividing channel 50, etc. It would be understood that the divider system100 can include multiple sets of dividing screws 44A, 44B, each set 42having a different thread form, lead combination, number of starts,pocket size, etc., for use with objects 10 of different shapes andsizes.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 8, 10, and 16, in the dividing portion 52, thethread forms of the dividing screws 44A, 44B are offset to form aplurality of dividing pockets 58A, 58B which are longitudinally offsetfrom each other, such that, due to the offset formation of the dividingpockets 58A, 58B and the larger lead L2 of the thread form in thedividing portion 56, the objects 10 in the dividing portion 56 arespaced along the longitudinal axis 94 of the dividing channel 50 andsingulated from each other prior to being outputted from the output end48 of the dividing screw set 42. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10-12, theconveyor 22, in the dividing portion 56 of the dividing channel 58 andcontinuing through the discharge channel 68, is peaked such that each ofthe discharge belts 26A, 26B is tilted away and downward (as viewed onthe page) from a central peak at a peak angle Ap. An object 10 in thedividing portion 56 will be tilted into one or the other of the dividingpockets 58A, 58B as the object 10 is conveyed into the dividing portion56, by the action of the dividing portion 56 of the one of the dividingscrews 44A, 44B including the dividing pocket 58 a, 58B into which theobject 10 is received, in combination with the tilting action of thepeaked discharge belts 26A, 26B urging the object 10 to tilt into thedividing pocket 58A, 58B. The photographic images shown in FIGS. 5-7 andschematic FIGS. 8-12 illustrate the progression of a sequence of objects10 being divided by rotation of the dividing screw set 42 into twoobject series 12A, 12B and outputted into the discharge screw set 60while being conveyed on the peaked portion 30 of discharge belts 26A,26B of conveyor 22.

Referring now to FIG. 5, shown is a sequence of objects 10, which in thenon-limiting example are containers sequentially labeled c1, c2, c3, c4,c5, c6, c6 for illustrative purposes. The objects 10 have been receivedinto the infeed portion 52 and conveyed sequentially through thedividing screw set 42 such that at the point in time shown in FIG. 5,objects c1 and c2 are located in the dividing portion 56, object c3 istransitioning from an infeed pocket 54 of the infeed portion 52 to adividing pocket 58A of the dividing portion 56, and objects c4, c5, c6are located in infeed pockets 54. The conveyor 22 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) inthe infeed portion 52 includes a flat portion 28 such that the dischargebelts 26A, 26B in the infeed portion 52 are flat and such that theobjects c4, c5, c6 are supported in an upright position by the dividingscrews 44A, 44B on the flat portion 28, as shown in FIG. 9.

The conveyor 22 transitions from a flat portion 28 in the infeed portion52 to a peaked portion 30 in the dividing portion 56 of the dividingmechanism, where in the dividing portion 56 each of the discharge belts26A, 26B is peaked at a peak angle Ap (see FIGS. 8 and 10), such that,as object c3 transitions into dividing pocket 58A, object c3 is tiltedaway from its upright position into the dividing pocket 58A at a tiltangle At. The tilt angle At is a function of the peak angle Ap and theshape of the screw form and/or pocket depth in the dividing portion 56of the dividing screw 44A, 44B. The tilt angle At can be increased bychanging the shape of the dividing pocket 58, for example, by increasingthe depth of dividing pocket 58 in the dividing portion 56. The tiltangle At can be affected by the shape, height, and center of gravity ofthe object 10. In one example, the height H of the dividing screws 44A,44B relative to the discharge belts 26A, 26B can be adjustable, suchthat the height H of the dividing screws 44A, 44B can be modified toadjust the tile angle At. As such, it would be understood that one ormore of the shape (pitch, lead, pocket depth, etc.) of the dividerscrews 44A, 44B, the peak angle Ap of the discharge belts 26A, 26B, andthe screw height H can be varied to establish the tilt angle At of theobject 10 in the dividing pocket 58, as the object 10 is progressedthrough the dividing portion 56, to ensure the object 10 is stabilizedin the respective one of the dividing pockets 58A, 58B and on therespective one of the discharge belts 26A, 26B to which the object 10 isdivided, as it is conveyed along the conveyor 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 16, and as illustrated in FIG. 10, dividingpockets 58A, 58B are longitudinally offset from each other, such that,as the sequence c1, c2, etc. of objects 10 is conveyed from the infeedportion 52 to the dividing portion 56 of the dividing screw set 42, theobjects 10 are alternately divided between the first and second dividingscrews 44A, 44B and first and second discharge belts 26A, 26B, such thatevery object 10 in the sequence is divided in a lateral direction whichis opposite the previous and the subsequent objects 10 in the sequence.Referring to the sequence of objects 10 shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 17, and21-22, object c1 is divided onto discharge belt 26A and into dividingpocket 58A of dividing screw 44A, and the next sequential object c2 isdivided onto discharge belt 26B and into dividing pocket 58B of dividingscrew 44B. This dividing pattern continues as the sequence of objects 10progresses through the dividing screw set 42, as illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7, with object c3 being divided onto discharge belt 26A and intodividing pocket 58A, and object c4 being divided onto discharge belt 26Band into dividing pocket 58B, and as further illustrated in FIGS. 23-24,showing the division of the object sequence c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6, c7,c8 into two object series 12A, 12B, where the first object series 12Aincludes objects c1, c3, c5, c7 (and so on) and is divided into dividingpockets 58A and onto discharge belt 26A, and the second object series12B includes objects c2, c4, c6, c8 (and so on) and is divided intodividing pockets 58B and onto discharge belt 26B. As such, it would beunderstood that the division of the sequence c1, c2, c3, etc. of objects10 into two object series 12A, 12B occurs by rotation of the dividingscrew set 42 and lateral tilting of the object 10 on the conveyor 22such that an object 10 in the sequence is singulated into one of thedividing pockets 58A, 58B and onto one of the discharge belts 26A, 26B,and the objects 10 which precede and are subsequent to that object 10 inthe sequence are singulated into the other one of the dividing pockets58B, 58A and onto the other one of the discharge belts 26B, 26A.

As shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 and further illustrated in FIGS. 21through 24, the objects 10 in each of the object series 12A, 12B areoutputted from the dividing screw set 42 to a receiving end 64 of thedischarge screw set 60. As shown in the figures, objects 10 in thesequence of objects c1 . . . cn are divided by rotation of the dividingscrew set 42 and received alternately into a dividing pocket 58A and adividing pocket 58B, where the divided objects 10 received into thedividing pocket 58A are outputted at the output end 48 from the dividingpocket 58A and received by the discharge screw 62A to form a series ofobjects 12A, and the divided objects 10 received into the dividingpocket 58B are outputted at the output end 48 from the dividing pocket58B and received by the discharge screw 62B to form a series of objects12B. The discharge screw set 60 includes first and second dischargescrews 62A, 62B connected to a drive unit 118 such that each of thedischarge screws 62A, 62B is rotatable about a screw axis 98 (see FIG.11) to define a longitudinal axis 95 therebetween. The first and seconddischarge screws 62A, 62B each define a respective thread form such thatduring rotation of the discharge screw set 60, the thread forms of thefirst and second discharge screws 62A, 62B are mirror images to eachother relative to the longitudinal axis 94. The discharge screw set 60includes the receiving end 64 for receiving the objects 10 outputtedfrom the dividing screw set 42, and a discharge end 66 from which theobjects 10 are conveyed to the outfeed portion 90 of the conveyingmechanism 20. The discharge screws 62A, 62B are configured to be drivenby drive units 118 in opposing directions relative to the longitudinalaxis 94 defined by the conveyor 22. In the present example, dischargescrew 62A is configured to rotate clockwise, and discharge screw 62B isconfigured to rotate counter-clockwise, as viewed from the discharge end66 of the discharge screw set 60. In the example shown in FIGS. 4through 7, each of the discharge screws 62A, 62B is a constant leadscrew. In the example shown, the discharge screws 62A, 62B and thedividing screws 44A, 44B have the same pitch, and the discharge screws62A, 62B have the same lead L1 as the infeed portion 52 of the dividingscrews 44A, 44B. It would be understood that the example shown isillustrative and non-limiting, and, for example, the discharge screws62A, 62B could have a lead which is variable from the receiving end 64to the discharge end 66 to change the spacing of the objects 10 alongthe longitudinal axis, e.g., longitudinally, as they are conveyedthrough the discharge screw set 60.

As shown in the figures, and as illustrated by FIGS. 17-18, thedischarge screws 62A, 62B are aligned such that the screw axes 98 of thedischarge screws 62A, 62B are parallel to each other and to thelongitudinal axis 94, and are spaced laterally from the longitudinalaxis 94 and from each other to define the discharge channel 68 includinga plurality of discharge pockets 70A, 70B distributed longitudinally,e.g., along the length, of the discharge screw set 60. The shape of eachdischarge pocket 70A, 70B is defined by the screw form of the dischargescrews 62A, 62B. As shown in FIGS. 5-7 and FIGS. 11 and 12, the conveyor22, in the discharge channel 68 is peaked such that each of thedischarge belts 26A, 26B is tilted away and downward (as viewed on thepage) from a central peak at a peak angle Ap. As such, and as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 and illustrated in FIG. 17, an object 10 being outputtedfrom the output end 48 of the dividing screw set 42 will be tilted intoone of the discharge pockets 70A, 70B and conveyed in the tiltedposition along the conveyor 22. In the example shown, the root (minor)diameter and crest (major) diameter of the screw form of the dischargescrews 62A, 62B is relatively smaller, respectively, than the root(minor) diameter and the crest (major) diameter of the screw form of thedividing screws 44A, 44B, such that, as the object 10 is outputted fromthe dividing screw set 42 into one of the discharge pockets 70A, 70B,the tilt angle At of the object 10 can increase, as shown in FIGS.10-12, as compared to the tilt angle At of the object 10 in the dividingpocket 58A, 58B, and such that the object series 12A is further dividedlaterally from the object series 12B as the object series 12A and 12Bare conveyed by the discharge screws 62A, 62B through the dischargechannel 68. As shown in FIGS. 6-7 and 17 and in additional detail inFIGS. 22-23, objects c1, c3, c5, etc. of the object series 12A aredischarged from dividing pocket 58A as indicated by the arrow 120 andfed into discharge pockets 70A of discharge screw 62A, and conveyed byrotation of the discharge screw 62A and movement of the discharge belt26A through the discharge channel 68 for discharge into the firstdischarge lane 34A. Likewise, objects c2, c4, c6, etc. of the objectseries 12B are discharged from dividing pocket 58B as indicated by arrow122 and fed into discharge pockets 70B of discharge screw 62B, andconveyed by rotation of the discharge screw 62B and movement of thedischarge belt 26B through the discharge channel 68 for discharge intothe second discharge lane 34B.

FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIGS. 21-24 illustrate object series 12A being dividedfrom the sequence of objects 10, such that objects c1, c3, c5, c7 etc.are, as previously described, divided into a dividing pocket 58A ofdividing screw 44A and outputted into a pocket 70A of the dischargescrew 62A. As illustrated by the figures, the objects c1, c3, c5, c7etc. are singulated in the dividing portion 56 and outputted to thedischarge screw 62A such that every other discharge pocket 70A is leftempty as the objects c1, c3, c5, c7 etc. are received by the dischargescrew 62A. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 17 and FIGS. 22 and 23, for example,the discharge pocket 70A between the discharge pocket 70A in whichobject c1 is positioned and the discharge pocket 70A in which object c3is positioned is an empty pocket X1. As shown beginning with FIG. 21,and illustrated in FIG. 17, the objects c1, c3, c5, c7 are outputted toevery other discharge pocket 70A, such that the empty pocket X1 ismaintained between longitudinally adjacent objects c1 and c3, an emptypocket X3 is maintained between longitudinally adjacent objects c3 andc5, and so on. Likewise, as object series 12B is divided into a dividingpocket 58B and outputted to the discharge screw 62B, every otherdischarge pocket 70B is left empty as the objects c2, c4, c6, c8 etc.are received by the discharge screw 62B. The rotation of dischargescrews 62A, 62B is coordinated such that each object 10 in series 12A isconveyed in a discharge pocket 70A which is laterally opposite an emptydischarge pocket 70B, and each object 10 in series 12B is conveyed in adischarge pocket 70B which is laterally opposite an empty dischargepocket 70A (see FIGS. 22-23 and FIG. 17). Referring to FIGS. 22 and 17,for example, an empty pocket X2 is maintained in advance of object c2and an empty pocket X4 is maintained between objects c2 and c4 output todischarge screw 62B. Object c1 is laterally opposite empty pocket X2,object c2 is laterally opposite empty pocket X1, object c3 is laterallyopposite empty pocket X4, object c4 is laterally opposite empty pocketX3, and so on. By dividing the object series 12A, 12B such that eachobject 10 in the series 12A, 12B is laterally opposite an empty pocket Xin the discharge channel 68, the objects 10 from series 12A can berespectively diverted, by actuation of the diverter 74A, into therespective laterally opposite empty pockets 70B in discharge screw 62Bto form a diverted group 14B, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 25. Likewise,the objects 10 from series 12B can be respectively diverted, byactuation of the diverter 74B, into the respective laterally oppositeempty pockets 70A in discharge screw 62A to form a diverted group 14A,as shown in FIG. 27.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 and FIGS. 24 and 26, the object series 12A isconveyed by the discharge screw 62A and along the discharge belt 26A tothe discharge end 66 of the discharge screw set 60, where the objectsc1, c3, c5, etc. of the series 12A are conveyed into the discharge lane34A for conveyance on the discharge belt 26A through the conveyoroutfeed portion 90 to the outfeed end 92. Likewise, the object series12B is conveyed by the discharge screw 62B and along the discharge belt26B to the discharge end 66, where the objects c2, c4, c6, etc. of theseries 12B are conveyed into the discharge lane 34B for conveyance onthe discharge belt 26B through the outfeed portion 90 to the outfeed end92. In a non-limiting example, the conveyor 22 in the outfeed portion 90can be peaked as shown in FIG. 12, such that objects 10 on therespective discharge belts 26A, 26B are tilted against the respectivedischarge rails 36A, 36B, to urge the objects 10 to remain in theirrespective discharge lane 34A, 34B and to stabilize and/or support theobjects 10 in their respective discharge lanes 34A, 34B as they areconveyed through the outfeed portion 90.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIGS. 13-15, and FIG. 27, the divider system100 includes a diverting mechanism 72. In the example shown, thediverting mechanism includes a first diverter 74A and a second diverter74B. the diverting mechanism 72 is in communication with the controller104 such that each of the first and second diverters 74A, 74B areselectively actuable to divert the series 12A, 12B of the dividedobjects 10 onto one of the discharge belts 26A, 26B to form a divertedgroup 14 of objects 10, where the diverted group 14 of objects 10 arethen conveyed via a respective one of the discharge lanes 34A, 34B tothe outfeed end 92 of the conveyor 20. In an illustrative example shownin FIGS. 13-15 and FIG. 18, the diverter 74A includes a diverter element76A which is configured, in a non-limiting example, as a pivoting armconnected at a first end 84A via a pivotable joint 82A to a connectingmember 80A, such that the diverter element 76A is pivotable about apivot axis 96A between a non-actuated position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4and an actuated position shown in FIGS. 13-16 and FIG. 27. In theactuated position the diverter element 76A is pivoted to a diverterangle Ad as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 18, such that a second end 86A ofthe diverter element 76A pivots into the discharge channel 68 to contactobjects 10 in the series 12A and divert the objects in series 12A fromdischarge belt 26A to discharge belt 26B, where each of the divertedobjects in series 12A is received into a respective empty pocket X inthe discharge screw 62B and conveyed by the discharge screw 62B anddischarge belt 26B out of the discharge channel 68 to the discharge lane34B of the outfeed portion 90. The diverter 74A includes an actuator108A for actuating and de-actuating the diverter element 76A. Thediverter element 76A, in the illustrative example, is connected to theactuator 108A by a linkage 88A actuable by the actuator 108A to pivotthe diverter element 76A between the actuated and non-actuatedpositions. The linkage 88A shown in FIG. 15 includes a rod and cylinderassembly for moving the diverter element 76A. This example isnon-limiting and it would be understood that other configurations oflinkage 88A could be used. The actuator 108A can be, by way ofnon-limiting example, one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator,a magnetically actuated servo mechanism, or other like actuator.

Each of the diverters 74A, 74B can include a respective second diverterelement 78A, 78B, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. In the example shown, thefirst (upper) diverter element 76A pivots into the discharge channel 68to contact the upper portion (as viewed on the page) of the object 10protruding above the discharge screw 62A, and the second (lower)diverter element 78A pivots into the discharge channel 68 via aclearance gap G between the conveyor 22 and the discharge screw 62A, tocontact the lower portion (as viewed on the page) of the object 10. Bycontacting the object 10 both above and below the discharge screw 62Awith, respectively, the upper and lower diverter elements 76A, 78A, theobject 10 is stabilized and supported as it is diverted from dischargebelt 26A to discharge belt 26B and as the object 10 is diverted into itscorresponding pocket 70B in discharge screw 62B. It would be understoodthat, for objects 10 which are shaped and/or sized such that the upperportion of the object 10 does not protrude above the discharge screw,the object 10 can be diverted using the lower diverter element 78A only.In a non-limiting example, the lower diverter element 78A is a pivotingarm connected at a first end 84A via the pivotable joint 82A to theconnecting member 80A, such that the diverter element 78A is pivotableabout the pivot axis 96A. As illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 21-27, each ofthe diverter elements 76A, 76B, 78A, 78B can include a contoured surfacefor contacting the objects 10, such that, during selective actuation ofany of the diverter elements 76A, 76B, 78A, 78B to divert the objects10, contact between the contoured surface and the diverted object 10 isgradual, such that the diverted object 10 remains stabilized through thediversion sequence.

FIGS. 13-14, 18 and 24-26 illustrate actuation of the divertingmechanism 72 using the diverter 74A to selectively divert objects 10from discharge belt 26A to discharge belt 26B to form a diverted group14B of objects 10 conveyed to discharge lane 34B, and de-actuation ofthe diverter 74A to resume conveyance of the divided series 12A ondischarge belt 26A and to discharge lane 34A. In FIG. 24, after divisionof sequence c1, c2, c3, c4, etc. of objects 10 by the dividing screw set42 into object series 12A, 12B, as previously described herein, andprior to actuation of the diverter 74A, the first series 12A of dividedobjects cl, c3, c5, etc. is shown being conveyed by discharge screw 62Aand discharge belt 26A to discharge lane 34A, and the second series 12Bof divided objects c2, c4, c6, etc. is shown being conveyed by dischargescrew 62B and discharge belt 26B to discharge lane 34B. In FIGS. 25 and18, in an illustrative example, the diverter 74A is actuated by theactuator 108A to initiate pivoting of the diverter element 76A usinglinkage 88A into the discharge channel 68, such that second end 86A ofthe diverter element 76A pivots into contact with object cG, to apply alateral force to divert the objects 10 of series 12A, beginning withobject cG, from their respective pockets 70A to respective empty pocketsXB of discharge screw 62B, and from discharge belt 26A to discharge belt26A, to form a diverted group 14B. The diverted group 14B, beginningwith object cG, cH, and so on, is conveyed from the discharge channel 68on discharge belt 26B to the discharge lane 34B. FIG. 25 shows thediverter element 76A fully actuated, e.g., fully pivoted to the diverterangle Ad, such that in the fully pivoted position, the diverter element76A is contacting and diverting each object 10 of series 12A as it isoutputted from the dividing screw 44A into an empty pocket XB indischarge screw 62B.

In FIG. 26, in an illustrative example, the diverter 74A is shown beingde-actuated by the actuator 108A such that the diverter element 76A ispivoted away from the diverted group 14 and out of contact with objects10 in series 12A, such that the objects 10 in series 12A remain ondischarge belt 26A as they are conveyed, undiverted, through thedischarge channel 68 to discharge lane 34A, as shown in FIG. 26.Summarizing the example shown in FIGS. 25-26, the diverting mechanism 72is actuated to divert objects 10 in object series 12A from dischargescrew 62A to discharge screw 62B and from discharge belt 26A todischarge belt 26B, such that the objects 10 in object series 12B andthe objects 10 in object series 12A which have been diverted todischarge screw 62B are discharged from discharge channel 68 todischarge lane 34B as a diverted group 14B, and the diverting mechanism72 is subsequently de-actuated such that, as the diverter 74A isretracted, the objects 10 in the object series 12A remain on dischargebelt 26A and the object series 12A, 12B are again discharged on theirrespective discharge belts 26A, 26B. The example of diverting aplurality of objects 10 from a series 12A, 12B into a diverted group 14is non-limiting, and it would be understood that the actuation andde-actuation of the diverting mechanism 72 can be controlled by theactuators 108A, 108B and/or the controller 104 to selectively divert, ina single actuation/de-actuation cycle, as few as a single object 10 or aplurality of objects 10 from one to another of the discharge screws 62A,62B and discharge belts 26A, 26B.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 and FIGS. 13-14, the diverting mechanism 72,in a non-limiting example, includes the first diverter 74A and a seconddiverter 74B. The second diverter 74B is configured as described for thefirst diverter 74A, such that the second diverter 74B includes adiverter element 76B which in a non-limiting example is configured as apivoting arm connected at a first end 84B via a pivotable joint 82B to aconnecting member 80B, such that the diverter element 76B is pivotableabout a pivot axis 96B between a non-actuated position shown in FIGS. 13and 14 and an actuated position shown in FIG. 27. In the actuatedposition the diverter element 76B is pivoted to a diverter angle Ad asshown in FIG. 27, such that a second end 86B of the diverter element 76Bpivots into the discharge channel 68 to contact objects 10 in the series12B and divert the objects in series 12B from discharge belt 26B todischarge belt 26A, where each of the diverted objects in series 12B isreceived into a respective empty pocket X (see XA, XB in FIG. 18) in thedischarge screw 62A and conveyed by the discharge screw 62A anddischarge belt 26A out of the discharge channel 68 to the discharge lane34A of the outfeed portion 90. The diverter 74B includes an actuator108B, indicated generally in FIG. 4, for actuating and de-actuating thediverter element 76B. In a non-limiting example the actuator 108B isconfigured as described for actuator 108A. The diverter 74B can includea second diverter element 78B (see FIGS. 11 and 13), where, in theexample shown, the first (upper) diverter element 76B pivots into thedischarge channel 68 to contact the upper portion (as viewed on thepage) of the object 10 protruding above the discharge screw 62B, and thesecond (lower) diverter element 78B pivots into the discharge channel 68via a clearance gap G between the conveyor 22 and the discharge screw62B, to contact the lower portion (as viewed on the page) of the object10. By contacting the object 10 both above and below the discharge screw62B with, respectively, the upper and lower diverter elements 76B, 78B,the object 10 is stabilized and supported as it is diverted fromdischarge belt 26B to discharge belt 26A and as the object 10 isdiverted into its corresponding pocket 70A in discharge screw 62A. Itwould be understood that, for objects 10 which are shaped and/or sizedsuch that the upper portion of the object 10 does not protrude above thedischarge screw, the object 10 can be diverted using the lower diverterelement 78B only. In a non-limiting example, the lower diverter element78B is a pivoting arm connected at a first end 84B via the pivotablejoint 82B to the connecting member 80B, such that the diverter element78B is pivotable about the pivot axis 96B.

The diverting mechanism 72 can be actuated and de-actuated, for example,by commands and/or signals selectively outputted from the controller 104to the diverters 74A, 74B, for example, via actuators 108A, 108B. Thecontroller 104 can be in communication with one or more devices whichprovide data and/or signals to the controller 104, such that the dataand/or signals received by the controller 104 can be used by thecontroller 104 to determine when and for how long one or the other ofthe diverters 74A, 74B should be actuated. By way of non-limitingexample, the devices in communication with the controller 104 caninclude equipment and/or devices which are upstream and/or downstreamfrom the divider system 100, where signals received from the equipmentcan include commands to divert the objects 10 to one or the other ofdischarge lanes 34A, 34B in response to conditions of the upstreamand/or downstream equipment, including conditions related to linebalancing and/or capacity requirements of the downstream equipment,equipment downtime due to changeover, set-up or other reasons, etc.

In another example, the devices in communication with the controller 104can include one or more sensors which can be located upstream and/ordownstream from the divider system 100, and/or can be included in thedivider system 100, for outputting signals to the controller 104 whichcan be used by the controller 104 to determine whether actuation and/orde-actuation of diverting mechanism 72 and/or the diverters 74A, 74B isrequired. By way of example, one or more of the sensors can be operableas a photosensor for detecting color, shape, object condition, etc., ascanner such as a bar code scanner, a sensor to detect a dimension,weight, or other quantifiable, e.g., measurable characteristics of anobject 10, etc. In a non-limiting example, the divider system 100 caninclude at least one sensor to sense a condition of the object 10, andto output a condition signal to the controller 104 which is indicativeof the condition of the object 10. By way of example, the condition maybe an indication of the shape, size, color, type, or other identifyingcondition of the object 10 that may differentiate the object 10 fromother objects 10 in the sequence of objects 10 located, for example, inthe infeed lane 16 and/or in the infeed portion 52 of the dividing screwset 42. The controller 104, in response to the condition signal, canselectively output a command to the diverting mechanism 72 to divert theobject 10 associated with the condition signal to one or the other ofthe discharge lanes 34A, 34B. In one example, the condition may be acolor, label, bar code or other distinguishing feature of the object 10which identifies the object 10 as one of a first type to be diverted todischarge lane 34A or one of a second type to be diverted to dischargelane 34B. In another example, the condition may be a feature of theobject 10 which is used to determine if a standard for the object 10 hasbeen met. For example, the object 10 can be configured as a liquidcontainer enclosed by a cap, as shown in the photographs of FIGS. 21-27,and the sensor can be configured to sense presence of the cap. Thecontroller 104 can be configured to divert objects 10 with missing capsto one of the discharge lanes 26A as rejected objects, and to divertobjects 10 with caps present to the other of the discharge lanes 26B asacceptable for further processing. In another example, the sensor can beconfigured to sense a fill condition of the container, for example, todetect a partially filled or empty container, such that the partiallyfilled or empty container can be diverted to one of the discharge lanes26A, 26B as a rejected object 10. The examples provided herein arenon-limiting, and it would be understood that one or more sensors can beincluded in the divider system 100 to sense object conditions which cancause the controller 104 to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate thediverting mechanism 72.

The controller 104, in a non-limiting example, is configured to controlthe drive mechanism 110 of the divider system 100. In the example shownin FIGS. 19 and 20, the drive mechanism 110 includes a drive motor 112,synchro bars 114 and gearing 116, which is arranged to concurrentlydrive rotation of the dividing screws 44A, 44B, rotation of thedischarge screws 62A, 62B, and movement of the conveyor 22 includingdischarge belts 26A, 26B. The controller 104 controls the drivemechanism 110, including controlling the rotation speed of the dividingscrews 44A, 44B, the rotation speed of the discharge screws 62A, 62B andthe belt speed of the conveyor 22, such the conveying force imposed bythe conveyor 22 on the objects 10 being conveyed in the dividing pockets58 through the dividing channel 50 and/or on the objects 10 beingconveyed in the discharge pockets 70 through the discharge channel 68 isat equilibrium with the conveying forces imposed on the objects 10 bythe dividing pockets 58 and the discharge pockets 70. It would beunderstood that when the forces imposed by the dividing pockets 58, thedischarge pockets 70, and the discharge belts 26 (being driven by theconveyor 22) are controlled such that the forces are at equilibrium, theobjects 10 are conveyed with no destabilizing drag force ordestabilizing accelerating force imposed on the objects 10 relative tothe conveying forces of the dividing pockets 58 and the dischargepockets 70, such that the objects 10 are stabilized in the dividingpockets 58 and discharge pockets 70 and are retained in their respectivepockets 58, 70 as they are conveyed through the dividing channel 50 anddischarge channel 68. In one example, the rotation rate and pitch ofeach of the dividing screws 44A, 44B and the discharge screws 62A, 62Bis proportional to the conveyor speed such that there is no forward orreverse drag or force exerted by the screw face on the object 10, e.g.,such that the object 10 is moved through the divider mechanism 100 atthe conveyor speed, and therefore remains upright and stable with thefeeding force exerted on the object 10 by the screw form equivalent indirection and magnitude to the conveying force exerted on the object 10by the conveyor. In one example, the controller 104 determines andcontrols the speed of the conveyor 22 and the revolution speed of thedividing screws 44A, 44B and the discharge screws 62A, 62B, based on thepitch of the dividing screws 44A, 44B and the pitch of the dischargescrews 62A, 62B, such that the linear speed of the conveyor 22, thelinear speed of the discharge belts 26A, 26B, the linear speed of thedividing screws 44A, 44B and the linear speed of the discharge screws62A, 62B are the same.

The illustrative example of a divider system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-27 isnot intended to be limiting. It would be understood that the dividersystem 100, including the dividing mechanism 40 and/or the divertingmechanism 72 can be configured within the scope of the descriptionprovided herein to divide and/or divert objects 10 of shapes, sizes andconfigurations other than those shown in the figures by modifying one ormore of the dividing screw set 42, the discharge screw set 60, thediverting mechanism 72, and/or the conveyor 20 including the infeed belt24, the flat and peaked portions 28, 30, the discharge belts 26A, 26B,and/or the outfeed portion 90. By way of example, modificationsanticipated within the scope of the description including variouscombinations of double and single lead screw forms, combinations andmodification of screw pitch and pocket depth to accommodate the shape ofthe object 10, modification of the width of the dividing channels 50and/or the discharge channels 68 and/or the height of the dividing screwsets 42 and/or the discharge screw sets 60 relative to the conveyor 20to accommodate and/or optimize stabilization of the object 10, etc. Byway of example, modifications anticipated within the scope of thedescription including various configurations of the diverting mechanism72, which can include modifications and/or variations of the shape andsize of the diverter elements 76A, 76B, 78A, 78B, which can include armconfigurations which are bent, curved, or otherwise shaped to adapt tothe shape, size, weight, and/or other condition of the objects 10 beingdiverted. Further, the linkage 88A, 88B and/or the actuators 108A, 108Bcan be modified as required to accommodate the conditions of the objects10 being diverted and/or modifications of the diverter elements 76A,76B, 78A, 78B. for example, the actuators 108A, 108B can be actuated byone or more of hydraulic, pneumatic, magnetic, and electrical means, andthe linkage 88A, 88B can be modified, for example, to actuate a diverter74A, 74B configured other than a pivoting arm, for example, a plungertype diverter. The example of the conveyed object 10 shown in thefigures is not limiting, and it would be understood that the object 10can be other than a container, and could be one or more of a container,a carton, a case, a bottle, a can, etc., which could be positioned inand conveyed via the infeed pockets 54, the dividing pockets 58A, 58B,and the discharge pockets 70A, 70B.

As used herein, the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one ormore” are interchangeable and indicate that at least one of an item ispresent. A plurality of such items may be present unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters,quantities, or conditions in this disclosure, including the appendedclaims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by theterm “about” or “approximately” whether or not “about” or“approximately” actually appears before the numerical value. “About” and“approximately” indicate that the stated numerical value allows someslight imprecision (e.g., with some approach to exactness in the value;reasonably close to the value; nearly; essentially). If the imprecisionprovided by “about” or “approximately” is not otherwise understood withthis meaning, then “about” and “approximately” as used herein indicateat least variations that may arise from methods of measuring and usingsuch parameters. Further, the terminology “substantially” also refers toa slight imprecision of a condition (e.g., with some approach toexactness of the condition; approximately or reasonably close to thecondition; nearly; essentially). In addition, disclosed numerical rangesinclude disclosure of all values and further divided ranges within theentire disclosed range. Each value within a range and the endpoints of arange are all disclosed as separate embodiments. The terms “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” “has,” and “having” are inclusive and thereforespecify the presence of stated items, but do not preclude the presenceof other items. As used in this disclosure, the term “or” includes anyand all combinations of one or more of the listed items.

The above features and other features and advantages of the presentinvention are readily apparent from the detailed description of the bestmodes for carrying out the invention described herein, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings. While some of the best modesand other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have beendescribed in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments existfor practicing the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A divider system operable to divide asequence of objects into a first series of objects and a second seriesof objects, the divider system comprising: a screw set including a firstscrew and a second screw; wherein the first and second screws arerotatably mounted to define a channel therebetween; wherein the screwset is configured to receive, via the channel, a sequence of objectsdivided into a first series of objects received by the first screw and asecond series of objects received by the second screw; a divertingmechanism comprising a first diverter; and wherein the first diverter isselectively actuable to divert objects received by the first screw fromthe first screw to the second screw.
 2. The divider system of claim 1,wherein the diverting mechanism comprises: a second diverter; andwherein the second diverter is selectively actuable to divert objectsfrom the second screw to the first screw.
 3. The divider system of claim1, further comprising: a sensor operable to sense an object condition ofat least one object of the sequence of objects and output a conditionsignal to a controller; wherein the condition signal is indicative ofthe object condition; and wherein the diverting mechanism is selectivelyactuable by the controller in response to the condition signal.
 4. Thedivider system of claim 3, wherein the object condition is defined byone of a color, a shape, a size, or a weight of the object, a defectcondition of the object, and a condition of a downstream process.
 5. Thedivider system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller; wherein thecontroller is in communication with the diverting mechanism and with adevice; wherein the device is operable to receive objects from thesequence of objects; wherein the device is operable to output a statesignal to the controller; wherein the state signal is indicative of astate of the device; and wherein the controller is operable toselectively actuate the diverting mechanism in response to the statesignal.
 6. The divider system of claim 1, wherein: wherein each of thefirst and second screws defines a respective thread form and isrotatable on a respective screw axis to define a longitudinal axistherebetween; and wherein the thread forms of the first and secondscrews are mirror images relative to the longitudinal axis duringrotation of the screw set.
 7. The divider system of claim 6, the systemfurther comprising: a plurality of first pockets defined by therespective thread form of the first screw; wherein the plurality offirst pockets are distributed longitudinally along the screw axis of thefirst screw; wherein each object of the first series of objects isreceived into an alternate first pocket of the plurality of firstpockets; a plurality of second pockets defined by the respective threadform of the second screw; wherein the plurality of second pockets aredistributed longitudinally along the screw axis of the second screw; andwherein each object of the second series of objects is received into analternate second pocket of the plurality of second pockets.
 8. Thedivider system of claim 1, wherein the diverting mechanism comprises: asecond diverter; and wherein the second diverter is selectively actuableto divert objects from the second screw to the first screw.
 9. Thedivider system of claim 1, further comprising: the first diverterincluding a first diverting element and a second diverting element; andwherein the first and second diverting elements are selectively actuableto divert objects from the first screw to the second screw.
 10. Thedivider system of claim 9, wherein the first screw is intermediate thefirst diverting element and the second diverting element.
 11. Thedivider system of claim 1, further comprising: the first diverterincluding a pivot arm selectively pivotable between a first position anda second position; and wherein the pivot arm is configured to divertobjects from the first screw to the second screw when in the secondposition.
 12. The divider system of claim 11, further comprising: alongitudinal axis defined by the channel; wherein in the secondposition, the pivot arm is oblique to the longitudinal axis.
 13. Adivider system operable to divide a sequence of objects into a firstseries of objects and a second series of objects, the divider systemcomprising: a screw set including a first screw and a second screw;wherein the first and second screws are rotatably mounted to define achannel therebetween; wherein the screw set is configured to receive,via the channel, a sequence of objects divided into a first series ofobjects received by the first screw and a second series of objectsreceived by the second screw; a longitudinal axis defined by thechannel; a first belt extending longitudinally along the channel andadjacent the first screw; a second belt extending longitudinally alongthe channel and adjacent the second screw; wherein the first belt istilted at a first tilt angle relative to the longitudinal axis such thatobjects received by the first screw are tilted on the first belt towardthe first screw; and wherein the second belt is tilted at a second tiltangle relative to the longitudinal axis such that objects received bythe second screw are tilted on the second belt toward the second screw.14. The divider system of claim 13, further comprising: a controller; adrive mechanism in communication with the controller; wherein the drivemechanism is actuable by the controller to: rotate the screw set at arotation speed; and drive the first and second belts at a conveyorspeed; and wherein controller is operable to control the rotation speedand the conveyor speed such that a first conveying force imposed by therespective first and second screws on the respective first and secondseries of objects is in equilibrium with a second conveying forceimposed by the respective first and second belts on the respective firstand second series of objects.
 15. The divider system of claim 13,wherein wherein each of the first and second screws defines a respectivethread form and is rotatable on a respective screw axis to define alongitudinal axis therebetween; and wherein the thread forms of thefirst and second screws are mirror images relative to the longitudinalaxis during rotation of the screw set.
 16. The divider system of claim13, wherein a diverting mechanism comprising a first diverter; andwherein the first diverter is selectively actuable to divert objectsfrom the first screw to the second screw.
 17. A method of dividing asequence of objects into a first series of objects and a second seriesof objects, the method comprising: providing: a first screw; a secondscrew; a screw set including a first screw and a second screw; whereinthe first and second screws are rotatably mounted to define a channeltherebetween; receiving a sequence of objects via the channel such thatobjects of the sequence are divided into a first series of objects and asecond series of objects; receiving the first series of objects to thefirst screw; receiving the second series of objects to the second screw;providing a diverting mechanism including a diverter; selectivelyactuating the diverter to divert objects from the first screw to thesecond screw.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the diverter includesa pivot arm selectively pivotable between a first position and a secondposition; the method further comprising: selectively pivoting the pivotarm from the first position to the second position to divert objectsfrom the first screw to the second screw.
 19. The method of claim 17,further comprising: providing a sensor operable to sense an objectcondition of at least one object of the sequence of objects; sensing,via the sensor, the object condition; outputting to a controller, viathe sensor, a condition signal; wherein the condition signal isindicative of the object condition; and selectively actuating thediverting mechanism, via the controller, in response to the conditionsignal.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein a longitudinal axis isdefined by the channel, the method further comprising: providing a firstbelt extending longitudinally along the channel and adjacent the firstscrew, wherein the first belt is tilted at a first tilt angle relativeto the longitudinal axis; tilting objects received by the first screw onthe first belt toward the first screw; conveying along the channel, viathe first belt and the first screw, the objects received by the firstscrew; providing a second belt extending longitudinally along thechannel and adjacent the second screw, wherein the second belt is tiltedat a second tilt angle relative to the longitudinal axis; tiltingobjects received by the second screw on the second belt toward thesecond screw; and conveying along the channel, via the second belt andthe second screw, the objects received by the second screw.